Team building & CSR

Mixing corporate social responsibility and learning and development with innovative team building, Unique Solutions have been responsible for two Midlands special schools and a children's charity benefiting massively.

A teams learning objectives are exactly matched to a project with a real outcome and client/user. The project is presented and facilitated in such a way that the learning objectives and outcomes are achieved. At the same time the emotional buy in for the delegates ensures longevity of learning and the client company achieves an element of their corporate social responsibility and some PR.

Recently 18 Senior Managers from Jewson's, the builder's merchants, planned, designed then transformed the grounds at Foxwood Foundation School in Nottingham, in just two exciting, hard-working days. They created a sensory garden in woodland with music instruments, innovative seating and a bird hide. The playground was renovated and a horticultural area was built with raised beds which is accessible to children in wheelchairs.

Mr Chris Humphreys, the School Head described the work as "simply amazing".

A similar project was presented to the Commercial Team from Nando's Restaurants who worked with The Menphys Centre, a nursery in Leicester for children with special educational needs. The team completely transformed an outdoor space effectively creating an outdoor room.

Head of Centre Christine Silver said that "both the children and the staff are delighted".

Another group from Nando's had less than 24 hours to arrange a gala dinner for 35 guests in a village hall, the proceeds of their venture going to the Shooting Stars Children's Hospice. They raised over £6,000!

"Training programmes such as these are incredibly beneficial for all those involved and from our perspective, they are always satisfying to organise" said Helen Parker, Event Manager at Unique Solutions.

"We incorporate Real Projects into team development programmes as a way of getting individuals to think differently while managing the beneficiary, their allocated budget and the limited time available. These stimulating events lead to innovative ways of working, motivated teams, and the end user, be it a school or a charity profits too".